Transporter for manual slips



June 2, 1970 w. GUIER TRANSPORTER FOR MANUAL SLIPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1968 IN VE N TOR.

W/L LIAM GU/ER June 2, 1970 w. GUIER 3,514,822

TRANSPORTER FOR MANUAL SLIPS Filed 001:. 16, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 '/N VENTOR W/LL /A M GU/ER June 2, 1970 w. GUIER TRANSPORTER FOR MANUAL SLIPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16. 1968 /N VENTOR WILL/AM GU/ER June 2, 1970 w. GUIER 3, ,8 2

TRANSPORTER FOR MANUAL SLIPS Filed Oct. 16, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /N VENTOR. W/L LIAM GU/ER United States Patent 3,514,822 TRANSPORTER FOR MANUAL SLIPS William Guier, 3100 E. 71st St., Tulsa, Okla. 74105 Filed Oct. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 768,132 Int. Cl. A44b 21/00 US. Cl. 24263 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A framework for supporting manual slips while the slips are disengaged from well pipe. The framework is disclosed as either pivoted or reciprocated to bring its slip-receiving basket either to the well bore or away from the bore.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to the transporting of manual slips, as a unit, to their operative position between well pipe and the drilling table and to a lateral location removed from the pipe.

Description of the prior art Wedge structure placed between well pipe and drilling table is as old as the oil well drilling art. From the beginning of drilling, it was necessary to disconnect the raising and lowering tackle from pipe in the hole to add or remove pipe sections. While the pipe remaining in the hole, is connected from the lifting and lowering tackle, it was necessary to wedge it to the drilling table to keep it from falling down the well bore. Some form of wedges, called slips, was necessary to lock the pipe to the table.

Slips have been developed in many forms. In general, however, they are a series of segments linked laterall to wrap about the pipe, grip it with some form of teeth and firmly seat in a bowl of the table to link the pipe and table together and thereby prevent vertical downward movement. These slips are removed by using the lifting tackle to pull the pipe up until the bond between pipe, slips and table is broken; then the slips are manually removed and set aside for subsequent use.

The manual handling of slips is dangerous, arduous and time consuming. It is customary to employ two men to disengage slips and set them to one side. Transporting the slips back to the well bore is just as awkward and usually requires the same two men to drop the slips into their bowl in the table. Therefore, it has been an early ambition to develop slips which can be automatically powered into and out of engagement with their pipe.

Many forms of powered slips have been conceived and developed. However, the practicality of all designs has been plagued by at least one drawback; the mechanism required to mount the slips, and move them into operative position, is too cumbersome to tolerate on the drilling table. Space is at a premium about the well pipe and the complex automatic slip mechanisms thus far developed cannot be justified. The present day fact to be faced is that automatic slips are not generally accepted and hand slips remain, with all the danger, arduousness and delay of manual manipulation.

As manual slips are almost universally used, the problem is that of transporting them to and from their operative position in the slip bowl of the drilling table. The mechanism must be simple in operation and configuration. It must not make a significant addition to the already crowded conditions about the well pipe. Certainly, it must reduce the danger, the labor and the time needed to manipulate conventional hand slips. The present invention meets all of these problems. The embodiment of the invention is compact, does not require modification of the Patented June 2, 1970 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the invention is to transport conventional hand slips between their operative position between well pipe and the drilling table and their inoperative position laterally spaced from the well pipe.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for slips which is moved laterally to a position beneath slips which are lifted above the drilling table so that they may be dropped therein and which can be moved laterally to a position remote from the well bore.

Another object is to provide a power mechanism for moving the receptacle between its positions.

Another object is to provide a configuration for the receptacle which positively retains the slips being transported.

Another object is to provide a means for retaining the slips in the receptacle with a predetermined force.

Another object is to provide a means for discharging the slips from their receptacle into their bowl.

Another object is to provide a structure to align the pipe and slips as the slips are transported toward their bowl when the pipe is misaligned with the bore.

The invention contemplates a receptacle in the form of a framework within which slips can be seated. The receptacle, hereinafter referred to as the basket, is mounted on an arm which is powered to transport the basket from the well pipe to alocati-on laterally spaced from the pipe, out of the way of other operations which are performed around the drill table.

The transporter arm moves the basket beneath slips which are kept clamped about pipe lifted by the drawworks of the drilling rig. The slips are then released from the pipe to drop into the basket and the basket is swung away from the pipe out of the way of subsequent drilling operations.

The transporter can either reciprocate the basket or swing it about a pivot. In either case, a simple power cylinder can be connected to the arm and move it between its positions under the control of personnel.

The basket is generally formed to receive the slips in their open position which seat on a removable plate which tips the slips back against the basket walls to keep them positively retained.

A magnet may be mounted on the edge of the basket wall, or in the basket wall, to provide an additional retention force on the slips.

The transporter arm is provided with a stop, or abutment, in its'range of travel. When the arm is brought against this stop the inertia of the slips overcomes the retaining arrangements and the slips are ejected from the basket, the bottom of the slips going first into the bowl.

The removable plate in the bottom of the basket is also reversible. The slot into which the pipe is received may be slanted to one side and pick up pipe which is hanging off-center in the well bore. The plate is turned on one side or the other, depending on which way the olf-center pipe hangs. On either side of the plate, the slot guides the pipe to the center of the basket and proper alignment with the pipe.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the written specification, appended claims, and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a drilling site at which is mounted a transporter for slips embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the slips locked to the pipe and raised to be dropped in the transporter;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 with the slips dropped into the transporter;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the well site showing the transporter arrested in its range of travel;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned elevation of the slips being thrown from the arrested transporter;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned elevation of the pivot of the transporter;

FIG. 7 is a section of the transporter arm of FIG. 3 taken along line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of slips locked on their FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned plan view of the transporter basket;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 and shows the basket bottom plate slotted for off-center pipe; I

7 FIG. 11 is a partially sectioned elevation showing the slips restrained in the basket by' a mechanical drag; and

FIGS. 12. and 13 are isometric views of a reciprocating form of transporter in each of its two positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Referring to FIG. l, there is shown some of the elements that make up a drilling rig. The rotary table 1 has its centrally located rotary portion 2 generally indicated. The drilling square 3 of the rotary 2 is shown with slips 4 positioned to extend down into it. Slips 4 are wedged between pipe 5 and the rotary 2, forming a link which holds pipe 5 from falling through the drilling floor and down into the hole.

The power source, which is linked to the rotary for turning it, is not shown. Many pieces of drilling equipment are not illustrated in order to concentrate attention on the embodiment of the invention. It is necessary to understand that a hoisting tackle is provided to connect to pipe 5 for raising and lowering the pipe in the well bore. Also, it is helpful to comprehend that sections of other pipe are screwed and unscrewed with pipe 5 to carry out the drilling functions. However, it is only essential to understand that periodically it is desirable to suspend pipe 5 from the rotary 2 and slips 4 are a necessary link between the pipe and rotary at that time.

Slips 4 are basically simple wedges. They may be formed with one of several different configurations. More of their specific form and function will be evident from subsequent drawings. The initial facts to be kept in mind are that the slips are positioned in place as shown in FIG. 1 manually. They are removed manually, and they are moved laterally to a storage position manually. Powered slips, in place, above or below the level of the rotary, have been developed. Frames have been developed from which slips are dropped into the slip bowl below the drilling square 3. However, all automatic or powered slips have been too complicated to survive under the harsh usage of the oil fields. The history of powered slips shows they are eventually discarded and hand slips brought back to take their place.

The present invention is projected into this art where powered slips have failed. The present invention faces the reality that the form of manual slips must be retained. However, the invention relieves the difficulty of transporting these slips between their operative position about the pipe and their storage position remote from the pipe.

Essentially, the invention is embodied in an arm on which a receptacle is mounted. The manually operated slips fit into the receptacle. The arm moves the receptacle into a position where the hand slips can be dropped into it. Then the arm is moved to a position where it and the slips are out of the Way of subsequent drilling operations on the drilling floor.

FIG. 1 specifically discloses arm 10 with receptacle 11 mounted on one end. The other end of arm 10' is pivoted at 12 to thereby transport receptacle 11 from a first position to a second position. The arm 10 is moved from one position to the other by a piston-cylinder 13. The fluid to this power device is controlled by personnel 14 operating controls at a station 15.

FIG. 1 discloses arm 10' with receptacle 11 carried to its storage position. If slips 4 were in receptacle 11 they would be out of the way of subsequent drilling operations. To get slips 4 into receptacle 11, hereinafter called the basket, the slips are raised high enough to move the basket beneath them and the slips then dropped therein. A hoist is connected to pipe 5 which is used to raise the pipe, the slips being kept clamped thereto.

FIG. 2 discloses a portion of the hoisting tackle in the form of elevators 16 connected to the end of pipe 5. In this arrangement, the drawworks, with the tackle, has raised pipe while a roughneck 17 keeps the slips locked to the pipe 5. Basket 11 is shown as transported toward the pipe for positioning under slips 4 so the slips may be released from the pipe by the roughneck and dropped into the basket.

FIG. 3 discloses the structure of FIG. 1, but with the slips 4 released by the roughneck 17 of FIG. 2 and dropped into basket .11. Piston-cylinder 13 has been extended to carry arm 10 to the forward limit of its range of movement. The slips 4 are retained in basket 11 and are in their open position. The personnel 14 has only to operate the controls at station 15 to retract pistoncylinder 13 and return the arm 10 to the position disclosed by FIG. 1. The slips will thereby be transported to a position laterally removed from subsequent drilling operations carried out on top of the rotary drilling table.

FIG. 4 discloses the general relation of the parts when the slips are returned to their position about the pipe. Arm 10' is pivoted at 12, transporting the basket and slips therein toward the pipe. A pivoted stop arm member 18 is mounted on arm 10. This arm 18 can be pivoted from its up position indicated in both FIGS. 1 and 3 to its down position shown in FIG. 4. In this FIG. 4 down position, the free end of arm 18 will engage abutment 19. This engagement is shown in FIG. 4.

The piston-cylinder 13 may be actuated to pivot arm 10 at a predetermined rate. The desired rate will bring stop arm 18 against abutment 19 with sufiicient force to throw slips 4 back into their bowl and about pipe 5. The sudden arrest of the movement of arm 10 is brought about when basket 11 is a predetermined distance from the operative position of the slips. The inertia of the slips will overcome all restraining forces tending to keep the slips seated in the basket. FIG. 5 shows the slips 4 in the basket .11 as arm 18 engages abutment 19. The slips 4 are shown in dotted line as they are thrown from the basket and begin their descent into their bowl.

In general, the complete cycle of slip transport has been illustrated with FIGS. 1-5. The only remnant of manual manipulation is shown in FIG. 2. Roughneck 17 does keep the slips clamped to pipe 5 as the hoist raised it. The remaining cycle of transport is carried out with arm 10, powered by piston-cylinder 13. Of course there are many important details within this general framework which the disclosure will subsequently cover.

BASE PLATE Base plate 20 is conceived as a sector of flat sheet metal from which arm 10 pivots, on which pivoted arm 10 roll-s and on which arm 10 is suddenly arrested in its movement toward the pipe 5. This plate 20, with arm 10 mounted thereon, is to be bolted, welded or otherwise mounted on rotary table 1. Mounted in correct relation to pipe 5, the plate 20 positions arm .10 correctly for its intended function.

PIVOT STRUCTURE 12 FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned view of the pivot structure at 12. This end of arm 10 terminates in two parallel, vertical plates 21, 22. These plates are in the form of a hook and are arranged to engage the underside of pins 23, 24.

Pins 23, 24 extend horizontally from a fixture 25 which is disclosed in partial section by FIG. 6 to show one possible arrangement for its construction. Regardless of its precise structural arrangements, fixture 25 is engaged by the end of'arm 10, through pins 23, 2-4, to be forced upward. A resilient force is developed downward on fixture 25 by the FIG. 6 arrangement.

More specifically, a bolt 26 is mounted on plate to extend vertically upward, through fixture 25. An elastomer body 27 is captured, between fixture and nut 28. In this arrangement elastomer body 27 is one of the links between plate 20 and arm 10 end. This end of arm 10 is effectively restrained from moving upward, but resiliently restrained with body 27. Also, arm 10 can be disengaged from this pivot structure by moving the hook plates 21, 22 from their engagement with pins 23, 24. Thus is provided one form of a pivot structure for the end of arm 10 which can be disengaged from arm 10 and which gives resilient resistance to upward forces on arm 10.

ARM 10 ROLLERS Roughly halfway between pivot structure 12 and basket 11, rollers are mounted on arm 10. These rollers 30, 31 are simple casters which are provided a framework on the underside of arm 10 and extend downward to bear on the surface of plate 20.

These casters 30, 31 provide rolling, low-friction contact between plate 20 and arm 10 as arm 10 is pivoted at 12. The track of the casters, as arm 10 swings through its predetermined range of arc, is entirely on the upper surface of plate 10.

FIG. 7 discloses the caster-s in a partially sectioned view of arm 10 taken along lines 7--7 in FIG. 3. More specifically, the frame for casters 30 and 31 is extended from plate 32 which is bolted over a hole through the upper cover plate of arm 10.

With casters 30 and 31 positioned at about the midpoint of arm 10, they also function as the fulcrum which arm 10 becomes. The forces exerted by the weight of slips 4 and/or basket 11 are balanced by the forces of restraint exerted downwards through elastomer body 27. Under these forces, casters 30, 31 function to provide low friction contact between plate 20 and arm 10 over the range of movement required by the transport of slips.

BASKET 11 Basket 11 has been generally described as retaining slips 4 on the end of transporter arm 10. In general, basket 11 is an open framework, roughly semi-circular with a slotted bottom.

The slot receives the pipe 5 to bring the bottom of the basket, as a platform, beneath the slips. FIG. .5 discloses the essential structure of this basket, bottom plate 32 having framework members 33 extending vertically to a rim 34.

Although the bottom plate 32 is arranged as the receiving platform for the slips, the slips do not come to rest directly upon plate 32 but a removable plate 35. This plate is notched to fit behind the vertical members 33 of the basket and is raised at the front, or entrance, of the basket by a bar 36. This arrangement provides a floor, or platform, for slips 4 which tilts the slips back against rim 34. This slip angle is large enough to provide the slips with the positive retention force of gravity and tends to prevent the slips from falling from the basket.

An additional force for slip retention is provided by magnet 37 Which is mountedon the back of rim 34. The magnet may take one of many suitable forms and may be mounted in any of many suitable ways. When assembled, the magnet attracts slips 4 with a force which adds to that of gravity.

When the slips are thrown from basket 11, the restraining force of both gravity and the magnet 37 are overcome. However, the magnet 37 is positioned high enough on slips 4 so that the upper portion of the slips will be retained long enough to have the lower ends of the slips precede the upper ends of the slips as the slips travel toward their bowl. This arrangement will militate against the slips jamming at an awkward angle as they return to their operative position about pipe 5. FIG. 5 gives illustration to this movement from the basket.

SLIP LOCK FIG. -2 gives general illustration to the technique of elevating the slips by keeping them locked to pipe 5 while pipe 5 was hoisted upward. It is the intention of the present invention to not disturb the form of the slips. However, it is desirable to provide a simple positive latch for the conventional handles of the slips for at least the use illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is provided to more specifically disclose the form of a simple latch which can readily be attached to the handles of slips 4.

Generally, three handles are supplied with hand slips. Two handles 40, 41 are disclosed on slips 4 in FIG. 8. The handles 40, 41 are brought to a position where portions of them are parallel when slips 4 are locked upon pipe 5. Then a bar 42 is pivoted from handle 40 and swung into position over handle 41. A protuberance member 43 is then attached to the other end of bar 42,

the protuberance portion extending down'to capture handle 41. With handles 40 and 41 so locked together, slips 4 are held with their teeth engaged positively with pipe 5.

The release of this simple lock is brought about by lifting protuberance member 43. The segments are then spread apart as shown in at least FIGS. 3 and 4. The slips then drop into basket 11 for transport.

OFF-CENTER PIPE It is to be hoped that in most drilling operations, the derrick can be plumbed so that the suspended pipe will hand concentrically within the well bore. However, experience shows that this is not always found in drilling operations. FIG. 9 shows a plan view of basket 11 with pipe 5 banding concentrically within the bore. The arm 10 has swung basket 11 so its bottom slot neatly fits about and receives the pipe 5.

Removable plate 35 is partially broken away in FIG. 9 to more clearly show tilting bar 36 fixed to the bottom of the basket. Also, the notches in plate 35 are more clearly depicted, fitting the plate 35 around vertical members 33 so plate 35 will be captured against sliding horizontally from the basket. Of course, the plate can be removed and replaced by a plate with a pipe-receiving notch which accommodates other sizes of pipe.

FIG. 10 shows how pipe 5 may hang in the Well bore to one side. In such case a plate is needed for the bottom of basket 11 which will guide pipe 5 to the center of the basket for uniform slip engagement. Plate 45 is formed with a slot slanted to one side of the well bore but leading to the basket center.

Should pipe 5 be off-center to the opposite side of the well from that shown in FIG. 10, plate 45 can be removed, turned over and replaced in basket 11. The same slot will then guide pipe from the other side of the bore to the basket center.

MECHANICAL BREAK-AWAY LATCH FIG. 5 specifically disclosed a magnet mounted on the basket to exert a restraining force on the sli-ps at their upward portion. The present invention contemplates the use of a mechanical restraining structure to accomplish the same results as the FIG. 5 magnetic structure.

FIG. 11 discloses slips 50 placed in a transporter basket 51. The slips are tilted back against the basket rim because they rest on plate 52 which is held at an angle 7 to the horizontal by bar 53 on the basket bottom. The angle of inclination is indicated at 54 and is great enough to positively seat slips 50 in their basket.

The rim 55 of the basket has a protuberance 56 mounted on it, directly to the rear of the slips. Handle 57 of the slips is hinged at 58 and the back portion 59 pivots downward at a predetermined angle.

This heavy handle portion 59 contacts protuberance 56 when the arrestment of the basket transporter is brought about. The slips 50 are thrown forward by the force of this invention, and the restraint created by the contact of back portion 59 and protuberance 56 retards the ejection of the upward portion of the slips. The handle breaks away from the protuberance 56, but not until the slips have been thrown from the basket, feet first, so to speak.

The break-away latch 57, 59, 56 is only an example of a mechanical arrangement for generating the force on the slips needed to guide the slips back into their operative position in their bowl. The magnet structure of the preceding drawings will also function in the required manner. From this point the disclosure is merely a guide for the designer to select the specific embodiment of the invention desired.

RECIPROCATING TRANSPORTER ARM The preferred form of the invention might be said to be disclosed by the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The pivoted transporter arm makes a neat package, anchored on its base plate and with its power pistoncylinder 13 controlled remotely. However, the basket, with its slip load, can be transported by a reciprocating form of mechanical arm and could well be the preferred embodiment of the invention under some conditions. It is even conceivable that a desired form of mechanical arm could both reciprocate and pivot to transport the slips to a desired point of storage when not in use.

The form and function of a reciprocated basket would not appear likely to require modification from that used on the pivoted arm. The approach of the basket to the operative position of the slips is the same. Only the range and desired direction of the basket movement would appear to influence the choice of arm; one that reciprocates, one that pivots, or one that combines both pivoting and reciprocating motions.

FIGS. 12 and 13 disclose the reciprocating form of mechanical arm for the slip basket. The general arrangement about the rotary table, disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3, is used in FIGS. 12. and 13. However, the basket is attached to the end of the arm.

More specifically, rotary table 71 is shown with the rotary porion 72 centrally disposed. Drilling square 73 of the rotary 72 is shown with slips 74 positioned to extend down into it. Slips 74 are wedged between pipe 75 and the rotary 72, forming a link which holds pipe 75 from falling through the drilling floor and down into the hole.

Reciprocating arm 80 is disclosed with basket 81 mounted on one end. The other end of arm 80 is fixed at 82 and reciprocates therefrom to transport basket 81 from a first position to a second position. The arm is reciprocated between the two positions by a pistoncylinder 83. The fluid to this power transducer is controlled in a manner similar to the system disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 12 discloses arm 80 with basket 81 carried in its storage position. Slips in the basket at this position would be out of the way of subsequent drilling operations. The slips are deposited in the basket with the same technique disclosed with FIGS. 13.

FIG. 13 discloses the slips dropped into the basket 81 after their release from pipe 75. The piston-cylinder 83 has been extended to carry the basket on arm 80 to the forward limit of its range of movement. The slips are retained in the basket and are in their open position.

The piston-cylinder need only be retracted to return the basket, and its slips, to the position disclosed by FIG. 12. The slips will thereby be transported to the storage position laterally removed from subsequent drilling operations carried out on top of the rotary drilling table.

CONCLUSION Although the invention is basically simple and its concept readily grasped, the operation of the embodiment has required a disclosure of some length. It must be clearly understood how the practice of handling slips for many years has been supplemented by the invention. Rather than attempt a bizarre, exotic rearrangement of the conventional slip elements and add a collection of gadgets which form an impractical means of positioning and removing the slips, the present invention sim ly steps into the problem with a mechanical extension of the arms of the roughneck. Should something go wrong with the simple mechanism in which the invention is embodied, the hand slips are immediately useful in the old way. The drilling operation can temporarily revert to the old routine without expensive interruption.

Then, in addition to the basic characteristic of the invention there are auxiliary features which are unique and valuable. The drag force applied to the slips by the magnet 37 or the mechanical arrangement of FIG. 11 insures the slips proper re-entry into their operative positions.

The hook arrangement between the pivot structure 12 and the arm extensions 21, 22 provides a ready means of removing the arm 10 from service. Also, should the basket catch on the pipe as it is pulled from the hole, the arm 10 will rotate about pins 23 rather than break some part of the arm structure. correspondingly, if a descending piece of well equipment comes down on the basket,

arm 10 seesaws on casters 30, 31 and the upward force on the pivot end of arm 10 is absorbed by the elastomeric body 27.

The simple, yet elfective, latch of the slip arms disclosed in FIG. 8 is another example of how the old is supplemented by the new concepts. The latch 42, 43 can 1%? added to the existing arms 40, 41 to provide the atch.

The plates 35 and 45 are unique in being replaceable with similar plates having slots of different size. Therefore, the basket can be adapted to different sizes of well pipes and their slips.

Finally, the invention can be viewed in another perspective as being embodied in a mechanism, which, in a larger sense, provides slips for well pipe which are simple, rugged and safe. The mechanism is practical for small rotary tables as well as the environment of the large, sophisticated drilling rig.

There are many advantages offered by the invention among which it is well to review the following:

(1) Only one man is required to actually manipulate the slips.

(2) The floor man will not be tired by the arduous task of pulling and setting slips by hand.

(3) The slips needed for drill collars and casing can be handled as readily as those slips of different size required for drill pipe.

(4) All connections, whether for going into the hole or coming out of the hole, are served by the invention.

(5) The degree of safety and speed in applying the slips is increased materially over prior manual techniques.

(6) All reasons for letting the slips ride the pipe have been eliminated, avoiding the extreme wear on the slips that results from this practice.

(7) The simplicity of the equipment reduces the possibility of parts breaking off and falling down the well bore.

(8) The compactness of the embodiment of the invention, as has been frequently indicated previously, avoids adding to the complexity of the drilling equipment.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. A transporter for well pipe hand slips, including,

a receptacle sized and shaped to receive and retain hand slips manually dropped therein,

a mechanical arm attached to the receptacle and arranged to have a range of movement which will transport the receptacle from a first position at pipe which the slips engage and a second position laterally spaced from the first position away from the pipe,

and power means attached to the arm to move the arm and attached slip receptacle over the range of movement in transport of the slips.

2. The transporter of claim 1, including,

a plate on the bottom of the receptacle supported to tilt 'away from the pipe and positively seat the slips against plate and the sides of the receptacle.

3. The transporter of claim 2 in which the plate is removable from the receptacle and is slotted to receive the pipe centrally of the receptacle.

4. The transporter of claim 1, including,

a retaining structure mounted on the walls of the receptacle to exert a predetermined retaining force on the slips to restrain them in the receptacle.

5. A transporter for receiving hand slips for well pipe from their operative position and removing them to a position remote from subsequent drilling operations with the well pipe, including,

a mechanical arm having a range of movement for a first end which includes the operative position of hand slips and the remote position,

a basket mounted on the first end of the arm and arranged to receive the hand slips dropped into the basket,

means attached to the basket which exerts a force on the slips to retain them within the basket,

means arranged to engage the arm as it moves from the remote position to the operative position and overcomes the retaining force to eject the slips from the basket and into the operative position,

and power means attached to the arm and remotely controlled to move the arm over the range of movement in transport of the slips.

6. The transporter of claim 5 in which the mechanical arm is arranged to pivot from its second end in moving through the range of movement.

7. The transporter of claim 5 in which the means exerting the force of retention on the slips includes a magnet mounted on the basket to exert its force of magnetic attraction on the upper portion of the slips so that the slips will be ejected from the basket bottom portion first.

8. A transporter arm for receiving hand slips for well pipe at the operative position and moving them to a storage position remote from subsequent drilling operations, including,

a base plate,

a pivot structure mounted on the upper surface of the base plate providing horizontal extensions and an elastomer body arranged to absorb upward forces on the extensions,

hook members mounted on a first end of the arm to engage the pivot extensions from their underside,

roller structures mounted on the underside of the arm to roll on the base plate,

a receptacle mounted on the second end of the arm and sized and shaped to receive and retain hand slips dropped into the receptacle,

and a piston-cylinder structure mounted from a point on the base plate to the arm to pivot the arm through its range of movement.

9. The transporter arm of claim 8 including,

a plate in the bottom of the receptacle on which the slips rest having a slot formed to pick up well pipe hanging elf-center in the Well bore and guide it to the center of the receptacle bottom plate so that the slips will engage the pipe uniformly as they are returned to their operative positions.

10. The transporter arm of claim 8 including,

means mounted on the receptacle to exert a break-away force on the upper portion of slips dropped into the receptacle to urge the slips to eject from the receptacle bottom first when the slips are thrown from the receptacle back into their operative position about the pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

